Post twister



May 12, 1931 J, s m o 1,895,381

POST Tw'IsTER Filed June 2]., 1929 Patented May 12, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN SHIMKO, OF UNIONTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA POST TWISTER Application filed June 21,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for twisting posts, and is particularly adapted for use in removing posts in coal mines in operations where coal is being removed and the surface is permitted to settle.

One of the objects of the invention lies in the provision of a post twisting device which may be operated by a power driven machine which is located at a point removed from the post whereby after the post has been twisted and pulled out of place, the coal may drop without injuring the operator.

Another object lies in the provision of a post twister of the character described which will immediately free itself from the post as soon as the latter falls onto the ground.

A still further object lies in the provision of a post twister which is extremely simple in construction, is durable in operation and is cheap to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention showing the same applied to a post,

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, but without the application of the pull chain, and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the twister in horizontal section and also showing the same after it has been turned to operative or twisting position.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, my invention comprises a twister which is formed from metal and includes a hook A, a shank B, a gripping jaw C, and a chain D or other suitable flexible connection.

The hook A is formed at its free end with inwardly extending upper and lower integrally connected teeth 5, 5 adapted to engage a post 6. The shank B is pivotally connected 5G to the hook A by a pivot bolt 7'. The attach- 1929. Serial No. 372,669.

ing portion of the shank B is curved asat 8 so as to cooperate with the hook A and thereby surround the post 6 for more than 180.

The gripping jaw C is pivotally connected as at 9 to the shank B and this jaw is pro vided with a plurality of gripping teeth 10. The teeth 10 are preferably arranged in upperand lower series as shown in Figure 2. Thus the upper and lower teeth 5,- 5 and the upper and lower teeth 10, 10 form spaced bearings which assist in retaining the device in a horizontal plane when applying the same to a post. The gripping jaw C is located between the curved portion 8 of the shank B and the teeth 5. w

The free end of the shank B is bifurcated to form spaced-jaws 11, 11 forming therebetween a seat or recess 12.

The pull chain or other flexible connection is connected at one end to the hook A, the end of the chain being disposed between the teeth 5, 5 and held against movement relative to the hook A by a bolt 13. This chain extends from the bolt 13 over the shank B and thence over the seat 12 between the arms 11, 11 and has its other end connected to a power operated pulling machine.

In operation the device is first placed around a post and the chain D positioned so over the seat 12, as shown in Figure l. The shank B constitutes a lever and in the initial position of the device, this lever projects in a direction at right angles to the direction of pull on the chain D by the power oper- S5 ated pull machine. The device is then turned for approximately 90, or to the position shown in Figure 3. This movement twists the post and after the post has thus been twisted, a further pull on the chain D by the machine will cause the post to be pulled forwardly thus creating slack in the chain and causing said chain to be automatically disconnected from the shank B when the post falls to the ground.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangements of parts may be variously changed and modifled without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a post twister, the combination of a post-engaging hook, a shank connected thereto and having a seat at the free end, teeth 5 carried by the shank and projecting toward the hook, and a flexible pull chain connected at one end to the hook and adapted to extend over the seat on the shank.

2. In a post twister, the combination of a m post-engaging hook, a shank connected thereto and having a seat at the free end, a jaw ivoted to the shank and having teeth proecting toward the hook, and a flexible pull chain connected at one end to the hook and adapted to extend over the seat on the shank.

3. In a post twister, the combination of a post-engaging hook, a shank pivotally con nected thereto and provided with a seat at its free end, a jaw pivotally connected to 2 the shank and disposed between the free end of the hook and said shank, said jaw being provided with post-engaging teeth, and a flexible pull chain connected at one end to the hook adapted to extend over the seat on the shank.

4. In a post twister, the combination of a post-engaging hook having spaced upper and lower teeth extending inwardly from the inner end thereof, a shank pivotally connected to the other end of said hook and having its free end bifurcated to form spaced arms and a resultant intermediate seat, a post-engaging jaw pivoted to the shank and having teeth projecting toward said hook,

a5 and a flexible pull chain having one end dised betwen the teeth of the hook and connected thereto, said chain being adapted to extend between the bifurcated arms of the shank and rest against the seat thereof. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. I

J GEN SHIMKO. 

